Premier League 2019-20: Arsenal 1-2 Brighton - 3 Reasons why the Gunners lost 

Arsenal went down to Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League as the Gunners’ search for a league victory continued. The defeat means that the North Londoners have now failed to win any of their previous four top-flight games.

Brighton started the encounter brilliantly and looked capable of ruffling Arsenal’s feathers. They got into several promising offensive positions and kept the ball ticking swiftly through midfield.

In the 36th minute, the Seagulls deservedly surged ahead when Adam Webster pounced on a penalty-box melee to thump home the opener. The hosts tried to conjure a response in the remainder of the half but were unable to do so as the visitors enjoyed a one-goal cushion at the break.

After the restart, Arsenal had the wind in their sails as they kept pushing and probing for an equaliser. The Gunners’ prayers were answered in 50th minute when Alexandre Lacazette’s looping header found its way into the back of the net.

However, Brighton had the final say on the contest as Neil Maupay, courtesy another header ensured that the Seagulls emerged from North London with three points in their kitty.

Here is a look at why the Gunners succumbed to yet another defeat.

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#3 Brighton completely dominate the first half

Brighton were brilliant in the first half

Over the past couple of months, Arsenal have been a side in absolute turmoil and that restlessness reached a crescendo after the Gunners’ defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt last Thursday. Subsequently, Unai Emery was given the boot with Freddie Ljungberg appointed in his stead. Thus, despite the North Londoners not enjoying the best run of form, fans were still willing to get behind the Swede.

However, that optimism quickly turned into a cacophony of boos at half time, courtesy a woeful first-half performance where the hosts were completely outplayed by the visiting Seagulls.

Brighton looked extremely bright from the outset and were willing to impose their offensive identity on the encounter. They passed the ball around with conviction and showcased the requisite desire to get in behind Arsenal’s rear-guard.

Aaron Mooy, Aaron Connolly and Maupay thoroughly relished the Emirates atmosphere as their quick interchange of passes put the Gunners under strife. Moreover, the triumvirate was extremely smart in exploiting the spaces left behind by the likes of Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Consequently, the Seagulls grew into the game and carved open the hosts frequently as Maupay went close on a few occasions. And, eventually, their endeavours bore fruit when Webster stabbed his effort past Bernd Leno.

Apart from the goal, the visitors seemed much more positive and their offensive play didn’t look devoid of ideas, in stark contrast to Arsenal.

More impressively though, they kept the Gunners’ much-vaunted attack at an arm’s length, thereby laying the ideal platform for a solid performance in the opening period.

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#2 Arsenal get beaten at their own game by Brighton

Brighton were extremely brave and courageous in possession

After being appointed as Arsenal manager, Ljungberg preached a brand of football that would be synonymous with what the club had produced over the years, thereby indicating that his first goal was to bring smiles back onto the supporters’ faces.

Though they’ve progressed slightly since the dark days of Unai Emery’s tenure this term, they still look a team in massive need of imagination and invention. And, unfortunately for them, the Seagulls gave the Gunners a dose of their own passing medicine on Thursday.

The visitors looked immensely composed on the ball and were brave and courageous enough to take the extra touch under pressure in order to pick out the right option.

At times in the second half, the away side were under pressure but they chose to play their way out of trouble rather than aimlessly hoof the ball up to Maupay, meaning that the hosts had to work harder to regain possession and mount attacks.

Furthermore, they passed the ball around in midfield with conviction. In the process, that forced the Gunners to play on the back foot on a few occasions. And, inevitably, the Seagulls were rewarded for their confident display with a first-ever victory away to Arsenal.

Over the past few days, Ljungberg has perhaps come to terms with the magnitude of his task at the Emirates. Yet, the sight of an away side coming to North London and beating Arsenal at their own game might just have compounded his woes significantly.

#1 Arsenal’s defensive deficiencies laid bare for everyone to see, again

Arsenal were at sixes and sevens at the back

Over the past decade, Arsenal have earned themselves an infamous reputation of boasting a soft touch and a side capable of wilting under the slightest bit of pressure. Though that aspect seemed to be on an upward trajectory during spells of Emery’s reign, it swiftly came crashing down when things turned sour under the Spaniard.

And, on Thursday, those deficiencies were laid bare for everyone to witness as the Gunners fell to the proverbial sucker punch in the second half.

The hosts dominated the game after the restart but weren’t able to create enough clear-cut chances as Brighton kept holding a deep defensive line. Subsequently, the Gunners tried to force the initiative, meaning that they left gaps at the back.

On one such instance, Mooy popped up on the right flank, cut inside Hector Bellerin and whipped in a delicious cross for Maupay. The striker did the rest as he arched his neck to perfection, thereby placing the ball into the bottom corner.

Apart from the goal, the hosts always looked vulnerable in transitions whereas their defending from set-pieces also left a lot to be desired. Webster’s goal in the opening 45 minutes was the 10th Arsenal had conceded from set-plays this term, a stat that Ljungberg might want to introspect, moving forward.

More worryingly though, there were countless occasions where the home side lacked any sort of defensive structure. Whenever Lucas Torreira involved himself with offensive movements, he wasn’t backed defensively by any of his teammates, meaning that there was a lot of space to capitalise on in midfield.

In addition, David Luiz’s propensity to retreat and not play an aggressive defensive line contributed to Connolly, Maupay and Mooy enjoying the time to turn and churn out decisive passes.

Through the 2019-20 season, Arsenal have been quite shambolic and there has been no evidence to suggest that the aforementioned trend might come to an end. And, if that wasn’t enough, they are finding ways to create new problems each game, to supplement their much-documented issues.

And, unless they find a cure to those ailments, the Gunners would find themselves on a slippery slope to mediocrity, provided they haven’t already.